Pilates Power
The nonweight-bearing aspects of Pilates offer a welcome respite for baby boomers and others with joint problems.
By Susan Mann, MA,LPT,CSTS,CGFI (Center the above paragraphs)
The nonweight-bearing aspects of Pilates offer a welcome respite for baby boomers and others with joint problems.
By Susan Mann, MA,LPT,CSTS,CGFI (Center the above paragraphs)
MANY CLINICIANS SEE THE INTRICATE TWISTS and turns of Pilates and wonder whether it's appropriate for their parents. After seeing the deluge of magazine articles and television features about this latest exercise craze, you many be wary of your paatient's ability to really handle all the maneuvers.
If the latest surge in participation is any indication, more people are willing to give it a try. You can help change physical appearance, posture, even attitude, with Pilates techniques. In the process, these exercise techniques can increase flexibility and muscular strength, without packing on bulk. These techniques use core stabilization and focus on form and function, breathing, posture and balance.
People approaching middle age are ideal candidates. Many of these baby boomers are discovering that too much jogging and weight lifting are taking a toll on joints, and the nonweight bearing aspects of Pilates offer a welcome respite. In addition, Pilates techniques, with 2,000 exercises and maneuvers, can provide an added edge in the fight against the middle-aged bulge.
Some people even use Pilates as their only exercise regime because they can work every body part, including the small muscles of the feet and hands.
Joseph Pilates developed his exercise techniques in 1915, integrating gymnastics and Yoga with theories of movement. His idea revolved around creating a program using movements and specific equipment that focused on building lifelong fitness.
Over time, Pilates has branched out into three schools of thought: West Coast, East Coast and Canadian techniques. While the basics are the same, each philosophy is slightly different. The alterations may involve slight differences in breathing patterns, foot placement on Pilates specific equipment, wearing socks vs: not wearing socks and equipment modification.
Primarily, I adhere to the West Coast Pilates technique, which uses floor and towel work, in addition to the primary Pilates equipment. Floor and towel work encompasses upper extremity movements to build the scapalothoracic and trunk musculature through dynamic movement and concentration to develop enough strength and flexibility for advanced maneuvers.
You can even carve out a niche for a specific patient population. For instance, you can target golfers and implement Pilates techniques to increase power behind the swing. By integrating these techniques into a complete golf fitness program, a client can generate strength and stability from the body's core musculature.
Other golf fitness techniques should include using stability balls, rubber tubing, balance boards, weight machines, manual therapy and soft tissue mobilization techniques to strengthen deficit musculature. But by adding Pilates, you can teach clients how to automatically maintain core stabilization continuously during the golf setup and swing phases. The techniques improve flexability through active dynamic stretching throughout movement, rather than through static stretches in one position.
Pilates-based exercise is a discipline; it takes time, concentration and dedication. And it's more intricate than sending a person to the gym to work with weights.
Before long, however, you clients will find it easer to put more power into a golf swing, lug a heavy suitcase through the airport and do bicep curls with full gallons of milk. In the process, you'll help them achieve a higher level of physical functioning, better balance and enhanced flexibility.
Susan Mann, MA,LPT,CSTS,CGFI is the owner of Pilates Center of Naples, Fla. She's a certified Pilates instructor in the West Coast Technique, a certified strength maning specialist and golf fitness instructor.
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